Mechanism for transfer of containers to rail cars



March 21, 1967 H. c. STRICKER, JR, ETAL 3,3WJ85 MECHANISM FOR TRANSFEROF CONTAINERS TO RAIL CARS Filed June 24, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 n I u ull 1 \l 5 4 9 1 5 kl (3 4 2f INVENTORS HE RY Tfim/cs zlk (IL/ W214 March21, 1967 H. c. STRICKER, JR, ETAL 3,31%,185

MECHANISM FOR TRANSFER OF CONTAINERS TO RAIL CARS Filed June 24, 1964 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Ha MRY C. STRICKER \TR;

BY 11 m: 7? E/Bg March 21, 1967 H. c. STRICKER, JR., ETAL 3,

MECHANISM FOR TRANSFER OF CONTAINERS TO RAIL CARS Filed June 24, 1964 sSheets-Sheet 3 gr 4 I i I z 4,,

INVENTORY HEN v C. frlwcmsrz JR,

BY JAMKJ 7 1 ass/v Fig. 13 m mqlyuyn.

United States Patent Office 3,310,185 Patented Mar. 21, 1967 3,310,185MECHANESM FUR TRANSFER OF CONTAINERS T RAIL CARS Henry C. Stricker, In,Edgerton, and James T. Cribben,

.Ianesville, Wis, assignors to Highway Trailer Industries, Ina,Edgerton, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 24, 1964, Ser. No.377,563 7 Claims. (Cl. 214-38) This invention relates to mechanism forthe transfer of containers to rail cars, and particularly to certainfeatures thereof which provide substantial improvement over mechanismused with known systems of such transfer involving the transfer ofcontainers from use as trailers for highway operation, to containerswithout wheels or bogies onto rail cars of special or standard design.

In certain known systems of handling containers for transport, involvingthe use of rail cars and highway operations, in which highway operationthe container is provided with a bogie or bogies which are removable andsupported for movement by a tractor, in conjunction with said bogie.

The container as such is often desired to be transported without thewheels or bogies and therefore it is desirable to move the containeronto a rail car, effecting removal of the bogie at the same time, andfacilitating the handling of the container during such operation.

Containers of the class herein contemplated may be of any of varioussizes, and will usually be handled in forty foot increments, since thisis a standard length for over the highway operation when towed by atractor and supported at its rear by a bogie which is removable.

With the foregoing in mind therefore it is a principal object of thisinvention to provide certain improved mechanism intended primarily forincorporation into the rail car configuration, whereby the transfer ofthe container from its highway position as a trailer, onto the rail caris easily and readily effected without certain complicated and necessarymechanism heretofore availed of in certain types of this system.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved mechanism whichmakes possible the movement of a container from its highway supportposition onto a rail car from positions alongside of and at an angle tothe rail car, and in fact from either side of said rail car equally asreadily.

Another object of the invention is to provide specific mechanisminvolving a bolster which includes certain guide tracks therein, adaptedto accept and guide a king pin mounted at the rear of a container andbeneath the same, so as to facilitate the positioning of the containeron the rail car from its highway position, and at the same time raisethe container into an attitude which facilitates the completion of thepositioning on the rail car in somewhat conventional fashion.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide a bolster whichincludes side tracks therein, adapted to direct a king pin toward thecenter of said bolster, said king pin being supported at the rear of acontainer, the bolster being arranged so as to facilitate thedisengagement of a bogie from the container, and thereafter support thecontainer for movement into longitudinal alignment on the rail car andlocking engagement therewith.

Other and further objects of the invention will be understood from aconsideration of the specification appended hereto and disclosed in thedrawings wherein:

FIGURES 1 through 6 are largely diagrammatic and illustrative of thegeneral method of use of the invention hereof, and specifically certainelements, which facilitate the removal of a container from its highwayoperating position to longitudinally aligned position on a rail car, andlikewise removal of the bogie therefrom.

FIGURE 7 is a plan view, illustrating in detail a bolster used inconjunction with the method disclosed in the first 6 figures, certainlatch means being illustrated in detail.

FIGURE 8 is an end View, somewhat fragmentary in nature illustratingpart of the rail car and specifically largely the bolster of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view, fragmentary in nature, taken about on theline 99 of FIGURE 7 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary perspective view, many details being omittedbut illustrating the position of certain support rollers forfacilitating movement of the container in the system hereof.

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view taken through the rear of the containerand specifically the rear member thereof to illustrate the position ofthe king pin therein.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the position of asupport roller.

FIGURE 13 is a plan view of the front bolster as though removed from therail car.

The invention hereof involves the use of a rail car of knownconfiguration generally denoted 1, including means thereon forsupporting a pair of forty foot containers for example, these means inturn comprising a pair of bolsters 2 and 3 which are substantiallyidentical and extend transversely of the rail car as respects thelongitudinal center line thereof. These bolsters are identical asindicated and generally shown in FIGURE 13 by way of example.

The bolsters spaced from the bolsters 2 and 3 will be denoted 4, beingidentical and largely the subject of this invention, illustrated ingreater detail in Certain of the figures, specifically FIGURES 7, 8 and9.

As will be readily understood the rail car 1 is sup ported on the usualtracks 5 and for purposes of illustration, FIGURE 4 being referred to atthis point, the rail car is shown as largely a diagrammatic or schematicarrangement, with wheels suggested at 6, the car itself as to thelongitudinal frame thereof denoted 7 with certain longitudinal surfaces8 being arranged to receive and support trailers which are notnecessarily of the type in which the bogies are removable but whereinthe wheels of said bogies are supported on the surfaces 8 if desired,this obviously requiring that the bolsters 4 be positioned so as tofacilitate or permit this to take place, it being noted that thebolsters 4 are movable fore and aft on certain rails 9, morespecifically denoted guide rails and illustrated in FIGURE 8, extendingabove the surfaces 8 and providing guiding and supporting means for thebolsters 4 now to be described in reference to FIGURE 7.

As will be seen from FIGURE 7, the bolster 4 comprises a main body 10consisting of a pair of ramps 11 which together form an apron sectionand which are spaced so as to provide a guide track 12 therebetween,entrance to the guide track being facilitated by the inner edges 13 ofthe respective ramps 11 which are divergent and thereby in effect gatherin their operation the king pin in a manner to be subsequentlydescribed.

It will be noted that the body 10 is symmetrical, suitable ramps 11being provided at opposite sides and thus in pairs, with the guidetracks arranged and the ramps likewise arranged so as to divergeforwardly, each guide track thereby being at an acute angle with respectto the longitudinal center line of the rail car which for the purposeshereof will 'be denoted 14.

As will be seen from FIGURE 8, the ramps 11 extend from outwardly beyondthe edge of the sunfaces 8, upwardly and at a fairly sharp angle towardthe central portion or support surface 15, this entire body being formedof a large casting as will be readily appreciated 'or in some othermanner fabricated so as to provide the configuration disclosed.

Extending longitudinally of the body 10 are the roller supportingelements 16 and 17 provided in pairs at opposite sides of the body 10,and equipped as to the elements 16 with suitable guide rollers 18arranged on vertical axes and as indicated in FIGURE 8 extendingdownwardly sufiiciently so as to engage with and roll along the outeredges of the upper surface members 19, comprising flanges, of the guiderails 9.

Arranged transversely and supported between the elements 16 and 17 arethe support rollers 20, there being four of these illustrated, and assuggested in FIGURE 8 arranged to engage with the upper surface of theflanges 19 thereby facilitate fore and aft movement of the bolster 4 asdesired.

Arranged about centrally of the support surface 15, is the king pin lockmechanism generally denoted 22, and consisting in this case of a pair oflock members in the form of earns 23, these lock members 23 havingcertain cam surfaces 24 arranged on radii of one length, and other camsurfaces 25 arranged on radii of a different length for purposes whichwill be subsequently explained.

These cam members 23 are pivotally engaged at 26 adjacent the edges ofthe guide tracks 12 and in turn pivotally engaged with operating rods27, the operating rods 27 in turn being provided with heads 28, andpivotal connections at 29 with the cam members 23.

The rods 27 in turn have the springs 30 arranged therearound adapted toengage at one end with the heads 28 and at the other end with anequalizer member 31, the equalizer member 31 being restrained inconjunction with a collar 32 on each of the rods 27 againstdisengagement from said rod 27.

It will be understood that the equalizer member 31 as shown in FIGURE 7,includes a body portion centrally and denoted 33 which receivesrotatably therewithin an actuating screw 34 rotatably arranged withrespect to the member 31 but connected in such a manner as to compelmovement fore and aft of the member 31 by reason of the threaded section35 of said member 34 operating in a mating threaded section 36 of thebody 10 and manipulated by a suitable handle 37 on the actuating member34.

From the foregoing it will be understood that by rotation of the handle37, the member 31 will be moved fore and aft, and likewise compelmovement of the cam members 23 through their resilient connection withthe equalizer member 31 thereby to position the cam surfaces 24 assuggested in FIGURE 7 for example, or in turn to withdraw said earnsurfaces 24 from the position shown in said figure and permit the kingpin actuation in a manner to be subsequently explained.

Suitably formed in the upper surface or support surface 15, are theroller recesses 40, adapted to receive rollers shown in FIGURE 10 anddenoted 41 which are mounted in the rear lower transverse member 42 ofthe container denoted 43.

It will be seen that these rollers 41 are spaced and close to the kingpin 44 likewise connected to the rear member 42 and extending therebelowas seen in FIG- URE 11.

It should be noted that the rollers 41 extend far enough below the lowersurface of the member 42 to provide for anti-friction engagement withthe ramps 11 in a manner to be explained shortly.

Before referring to the operation of the mechanism hereof, in the systemherein disclosed, it is explained that the container 43 is of courseintended to be usable as a body in a trailer combination, involving theuse of a bogie 46 which as illustrated includes the tandem axles 47 andsuitable wheels and tires 48 supported thereon.

The bogie 46 is arranged to be interlockingly engaged beneath thecontainer 43 serving as a body, and removable therefrom by latch meansnot herein disclosed but well known.

The forward portion of the container 43 is equipped with the usual kingpin 49, in a suitable king pin surface as will usually be provided, andarranged to engage with a hydraulic fifth wheel unit 50, which latter iscarried by a suitable tractor 51 of conventional form. The hydraulicfifth wheel unit 50 is well known and not further illustrated herein,its function and operation being described in relation to the systeminvolving the use of the other elements heretofore discussed.

With the foregoing in mind therefore, it is explained that the method ofavailing of the invention is to be described in detail in reference toFIGURES 1 through 6 inclusive.

Assuming that the combination of container 43 and tract-or 51, islocated in about the position of FIGURE 1, and it is desired to transferthe container 43 to the rail car 1, the combination 43-51 will be movedso that it is in about the position of FIGURE 2, namely at substantiallyan acute angle to the rail car 1. The combination 4351 is movedbackwardly toward the rail car 1 with the rear king pin 44 of thecontainer 43 about in alignment with the guide track 12 of the bolster4. The brakes on the bogie unit 46 are thereafter set, and the bogieitself as to its connection with the container 43 is disconnected.Subsequently further rearward movement in the direction of the arrow 52shown in FIGURE 3 will be efiectuated, this causing the rear of thecontainer 43 to engage with the ramps 11, and specifically of course inthis instance the rollers 41 to engage with said ramps, and furthermovement of the tractor 51 rearwardly is caused to take place.

At the same time as this rearward movement takes place or shortlytherebefore, the hydraulic fifth Wheel 50 will be actuated so as toraise the forward end of the container into about the position shown inFIGURE 4. The subsequent rearward movement of the container by thetractor 51, will leave the bogie 46 about in the position illustrated inFIGURE 4 but cause the king pin 44 to be guided into engagement with theguide track 12 by the surfaces 13 and toward the center of the bolster4. It will be apparent that if there should be some slight misalignmentof the king pin 44 as respects the bolster 4, the wide extent of thegathering surfaces 13 will cause the bolster as a whole to be moved onthe rollers 20 for example, enough to facilitate the properinterengagement of the king pin 44 and guide track 12.

Assuming that the king pin has therefore entered the guide track 12, itwill thereby pass toward the center of the bolster 4, the rollersoperating up the ramps 11 onto the support surface 15. As the king pinapproaches the cam member 23, it will actuate the said cam memberagainst the spring pressure of the spring 30 and permit the king pin topass between and be locked intermediate the pair of cam members 23.

Thereafter the tractor 51 as illustrated in FIGURE 5 will be jack-knifedso as to move the king pin 49 toward the bolster 3 for example, and whenthe tractor 51 has been moved as far toward the rail car 1 as isfeasible, subsequently a suitable block and tackle member 55 engagedwith one of the rails 9 will be brought into operation by manualmanipulation, of a cable 56 reeved thereover, a hook 57 being engagedwith the side of the container 43 as suggested in FIGURE 5, and by asuitable winch 58 on the tractor 51, cause the forward end of thecontainer 43 to be moved onto the bolster 3 with the king pin 49 thereofin the corresponding guide track supplied in said bolster. It will benoted of course that this bolster is a transversely extending bolsterwith the guide track at substantially right angles to the longitudinalcenter line of the car 1.

The condition of the various members or units heretofore described, willnow be approximately as indicated in FIGURE 6 with the bogie 46remaining in position since the container 43 has been raised up by theprovision of the ramps 11 and the hydraulic fifth wheel 50 so as to bemoved out of engagement with the said corresponding or mating section ofthe bogie 46. By the same token, the tractor 51 will have been relievedof the forward end of the container 43 and the respective king pins 44and 49 be in a latched or latching position.

Since it is undesirable to support the container during its movement onthe rollers 41 and since the latch section 44a of the king pin 44 willhave moved downwardly because the rollers 41 have moved into therecesses 41 manipulation of the handle 37 on the king pin lock mechanism22 is resorted to so as to bring the cam surfaces 25 on the cam members23 into interlocking engagement with the locking section 44a of the kingpin 44.

A suitable similar locking mechanism for the bolsters 2 and 3 may beavailed of, since the standard king pin at the forward end of thecontainer and denoted 49 will be supplied.

It is explained that reverse actuation of the various elementshereinbefore described in the sequence may be resorted to to remove thecontainer 43 from its longitudinally aligned position on the rail car 1,in this instance however the cam members 23 being entirely retracted bymanipulation of the handle 37 so as to permit the king pin 44 to bewithdrawn through the guide track 12.

It is notable of course that the forwardly diverging arrangement of theguide track and specifically opposite sections thereof, will facilitatethe movement or transfer of the container 43 or similar containers ontothe rail car 1 from either side and of course removal of the samelikewise being effectuated. The latching operation or locking operationof the king pin lock mechanism is such that either cam member 23 can bedepressed so to speak to permit the entrance of the king pin 44 intocentral position for subsequent locking manipulation.

We claim:

1. In container transfer mechanism of the class described, incombination, a rail car, a first bolster extending transversely of therail car and longitudinally movable therealong, king pin engaging andlock means therefor, said lock means being arranged about centrally ofsaid first bolster, a second transversely extending bolster normallyrestrained against longitudinal movement on the rail car, king pinengaging and lock means for said second bolster, a container having kingpins to connect with the lock means, a bogie removably engaged with thecontainer, movement of said first bolster being effected duringpositioning movement of the container on to the rail car, the firstbolster including oppositely extending pairs of spaced ramps formed toelevate the end of the container during the movement aforesaid, saidspacing providing a guide track whereby to guide the king pin at thesaid end between said ramps and toward the center of said bolster whendirected thereto from either side of the rail car aforesaid, saidmovement effecting disengagement of the container from the bogie.

2. In container transfer mechanisms of the class described, incombination, a rail car, king pin engaging and lock means thereon, abolster extending transversely of the rail car, second king pin engagingand lock means therefor, said bolster being longitudinally movable onsaid car, a container having king pins to connect with the lock means, abogie removably engaged with the container, means to disengage thecontainer from the bogie and move the same into longitudinal alignmentand locked engagement with the rail car, said rail car including a pairof longitudinally extending guide rails thereon, the bolster beingengaged with the rails and movable therealong, and the disengaging meansincluding ramps on the bolster, a guide track between the ramps, and asupport surface about centrally of the bolster, the second lock meansbeing located about centrally of the surface aforesaid.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein the container isequipped with rollers for rolling engagement with the ramp means, andthe support surface is formed with recesses to receive said rollerstherein.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein the guide trackextends toward and is positioned at an acute angle with respect to thecenter line of the rail car.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein the guide trackcomprises a pair of sections arranged at acute angles with respect tothe center line of the rail car whereby to lie in V-shaped formation.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bolster isprovided with rollers extending downwardly therefrom at the outside ofthe guide rails, other rollers are located beneath the bolster andarranged to engage with and move along said rails, whereby to facilitateguided movement of said bolster along said rails.

'7. The combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein the guide track iscomprised of a pair of sections which diverge from the center of thebolster forwardly of the rail car, the container is provided With frontand rear king pins, the guide track sections operate to guide the rearking pin toward the center of the bolster when the container istransferred to the rail car, and the second lock means is located at thejuncture of the said sections.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,102,646 9/1963Clejan 21438 X 3,161,150 12/1964 Sable 214--38 X 3,194,419 7/1965 Chorna214-38 GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT G. SHERIDAN, Examiner.

1. IN CONTAINER TRANSFER MECHANISM OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, INCOMBINATION, A RAIL CAR, A FIRST BOLSTER EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THERAIL CAR AND LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLE THEREALONG, KING PIN ENGAGING ANDLOCK MEANS THEREFOR, SAID LOCK MEANS BEING ARRANGED ABOUT CENTRALLY OFSAID FIRST BOLSTER, A SECOND TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING BOLSTER NORMALLYRESTRAINED AGAINST LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT ON THE RAIL CAR, KING PINENGAGING AND LOCK MEANS FOR SAID SECOND BOLSTER, A CONTAINER HAVING KINGPINS TO CONNECT WITH THE LOCK MEANS, A BOGIE REMOVABLY ENGAGED WITH THECONTAINER, MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST BOLSTER BEING EFFECTED DURINGPOSITIONING MOVEMENT OF THE CONTAINER ON TO THE RAIL CAR, THE FIRSTBOLSTER INCLUDING OPPOSITELY EXTENDING PAIRS OF SPACED RAMPS FORMED TOELEVATE THE END OF THE CONTAINER DURING THE MOVEMENT AFORESAID, SAIDSPACING PROVIDING A GUIDE TRACK WHEREBY TO GUIDE THE KING PIN AT THESAID END BETWEEN SAID RAMPS AND TOWARD THE CENTER OF SAID BOLSTER WHENDIRECTED THERETO FROM EITHER SIDE OF THE RAIL CAR AFORESAID, SAIDMOVEMENT EFFECTING DISENGAGEMENT OF THE CONTAINER FROM THE BOGIE.